North Peace Cattleman’s Association prepares to launch Emergency Livestock Response Project

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – A group of local farmers are launching a new initiative soon to help protect livestock during emergencies such as fires and floods.

The North Peace Cattleman’s Association is moving forward with its Emergency Livestock Response Project, modelled after similar initiatives in the Caribou and Kootenay areas of southern BC.

Coordinator Sherri Collins says the association decided as a committee to create the project last year. 

The 2023 fire season saw similar efforts on a smaller scale in places like Charlie Lake.

The project consists of purchasing a sixteen-foot enclosed trailer used to transport inventory and a portable livestock handling system that can be brought to emergencies, such as rolled-over cattle liners.

“The goal of the project was to respond to situations with good equipment, have good equipment available, such as the well-equipped trailer and the wonderful portable corral system, to prevent and prepare for emergencies with livestock,” Collins adds.

The initiative is being funded through a grant from the provincial government’s Food Security Emergency Planning and Preparedness Fund. 

According to Collins, the organization applied for funding last year and received $96,500.

Collins says the project won’t be up and running until June, and the Cattleman’s Association will host a luncheon event to share more information once it’s ready, but no firm date has been set. 

To view the organization’s press release, look below.